Fasting state and episodes of vomiting in children receiving nitrous oxide for dental treatment.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this controlled-crossover study was to determine the frequency of vomiting during nitrous oxide / oxygen analgesia (NOA) and assess the relationship between fasting status and vomiting.


METHODS
One hundred and thirteen children (64 male, 49 female), ranging in age from 24-160 months (mean = 74) and a mean weight of 23 kg (range 11-60 kg), participated in the study. At the initial examination, subjects were randomly assigned to be either fasting on the first appointment and non-fasting during the second appointment or alternatively be non-fasting for the first appointment and fasting for the second.


RESULTS
The average time interval between eating and treatment in the fasting sessions was 6 hours and in the non-fasting group, 1 hour before treatment. Vomiting occurred in only one subject, immediately after cessation of treatment resulting in a frequency of 1% of subjects or 0.5% of sessions. No other differences were found between fasting and non-fasting subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
During dental treatment with NOA using the rapid induction method, constant nonfluctuating concentration/ flow, and treatment time of under 35 minutes, the frequency of vomiting during NOA was found to be 0.5%.
Kupietzky
Ari
A
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel. drkup@netvision.net.il
Tal
Eli
E
Shapira
Joseph
J
Ram
Diana
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000766:Anesthesia, Dental; D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004435:Eating; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013997:Time Factors; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology*
D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D010100:Oxygen